Enhanced communication system for vehicle hazard lights

Abstract

A system for implementing strobing of existing vehicle hazard lights including an interface to a vehicle wiring harness configured to receive input to an existing vehicle flasher module, and a strobing circuit that responds to an activation signal from the vehicle wiring harness that is indicative of a hazard flasher deployment event by producing an electrical output through the interface to the vehicle wiring harness that causes a strobing of existing vehicle hazard lamps.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]This Application is a Continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14 / 875,833, filed Oct. 6, 2015, titled, “ENHANCED COMMUNICATION SYSTEM FOR VEHICLE HAZARD LIGHTS”, which claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62 / 083,619 filed Nov. 24, 2014, titled, “VISUAL EMERGENCY COMMUNICATION SYSTEM WITH AUTOMATIC DEPLOYMENT CAPABILITY FOR EXISTING VEHICLE WIRING SYSTEMS”, both of which are herein incorporated by reference.FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0002]The present disclosure relates to emergency or hazard lights for automobiles, RVs, trailers, motorcycles and vehicles in general, and, more particularly, to emergency or hazard lights that strobe and give visual direction for increased safety and visibility.BACKGROUND[0003]The advent of light emitting diode (LED) technologies has enhanced lighting capabilities to a point where vehicle based lights are becoming more effective as visual signals during emergencies and hazardous situ...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0018]The invention of the present disclosure, in another aspect thereof comprises a vehicle lighting safety device having at least one hazard input communicatively coupled to a driver accessible hazard light switch inside the vehicle, a microcontroller communicatively coupled to the at least one hazard input, and an output communicatively coupled to the microcontroller and capable of driving a plurality of vehicle mounted light emitting diodes, at least some of which are selectively operative as turn signal lights based upon manipulation of a signal light stalk mounted to a vehicle steering column. The microcontroller operates both the plurality of light emitting diodes in a strobing manner in response to receiving a signal on the at least one hazard input. In some embodiments, the microcontroller comprises a body control module. In another embodiment, the microcontroller receives the hazard input via a body control module.

Problems solved by technology

A problem with existing systems and modes of operation with respect to emergency flashers is that a double blinker flashing during an emergency, on a roadside for example, is insufficiently visible and does not provide a high level of clear visual communication to other drivers that a safety hazard exists.

Many citizens are killed each year while using their flashing hazard lights during emergency situations on the road.

Flashing or double blinking emergency lights are nowhere near as effective as strobing hazard lights.

Another problem with existing emergency flashers is that they are not always deployed when a genuine emergency exists.

Occupants may be injured or otherwise unable to deploy the emergency flashers when they are needed most.

A disabled vehicle on a roadway is a hazard to other vehicles and all vehicle occupants.

Nevertheless, hazard lights can be critical in quickly locating vehicles that have left the roadway either purposefully (e.g., to leave the flow of traffic) or as the result of an accident.

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